Navy guard Austin Inge hit a contested three-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining to lift the Midshipmen to a stunning 72-68 victory over Army at Alumni Hall Saturday night, spoiling the Black Knights’ perfect conference start in the most anticipated Star Game matchup in years.
The junior from Baltimore finished with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including the game-winner that sent the 4,200 Navy faithful into a frenzy. But it was sophomore forward Donovan Draper who stole the show with a career-high 28 points and 11 rebounds, dominating the paint against an Army frontcourt that entered averaging just 59.2 points allowed per game.
Draper Powers Navy’s Inside Attack
Draper shot 12-of-17 from the field and controlled the glass from the opening tip. The 6-foot-8 forward from Richmond had struggled with consistency through Navy’s first 15 games, averaging just 9.4 points per contest. Saturday’s breakout performance couldn’t have come at a better time.
“Donovan played like the player we recruited,” Navy head coach Ed DeChellis said. “He was physical, he finished through contact, and he gave us the interior presence we’ve been searching for all season.”
Navy improved to 8-8 overall and 3-2 in Patriot League play with the victory. More importantly, the Midshipmen snapped a four-game losing streak to their service academy rivals and handed Army its first conference loss of the season.
Army’s Perfect Start Derailed
Army entered the game 12-4 overall and 5-0 in Patriot League action, sitting atop the conference standings behind a balanced offensive attack led by senior guard Jalen Rucker. The Black Knights had won seven straight games and looked poised to run away with the regular season title.
Rucker finished with 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting, but Army’s supporting cast struggled against Navy’s zone defense. Forward Josh Caldwell, averaging 14.2 points per game, managed just eight points on 3-of-10 shooting. The Black Knights shot 41.8 percent from the field and turned the ball over 16 times.
“Give Navy credit,” Army head coach Jimmy Allen said. “They executed their game plan perfectly and made the plays when they needed to. This is why you play the games.”
Defensive Battle Turns Into Thriller
Both teams entered the game averaging fewer than 70 points per contest, and the first half lived up to expectations. Navy led 32-30 at the break behind 14 points from Draper, who shot 6-of-8 from the field in the opening 20 minutes.
The second half opened with Army storming back on an 11-3 run, taking a 41-35 lead with 16:42 remaining. Rucker scored eight points during the surge, hitting two three-pointers to silence the home crowd.
Navy answered with its best stretch of the season, outscoring Army 23-12 over the next eight minutes to regain control. Guard Tyler Nelson contributed 11 points during the run, including three assists that led directly to Draper baskets in the post.
Clutch Time Heroics
The game remained tight throughout the final 10 minutes, with neither team leading by more than four points. Army took a 68-65 advantage with 2:31 remaining on a Caldwell layup, but Navy had an immediate answer.
Inge tied the game at 68 with 1:47 left on a driving layup, then stole an Army pass on the ensuing possession. The Midshipmen worked the clock down to 12 seconds before calling timeout to set up the final play.
DeChellis drew up a screen-and-roll for Inge, who came off the pick and rose up over Army defender Marcus Johnson for the game-winning triple. Johnson got a hand up, but Inge’s shot found nothing but net.
Patriot League Race Wide Open
The victory throws the Patriot League race wide open with Army no longer undefeated in conference play. Colgate sits at 4-1 in league action, while Boston University and Bucknell both enter the week at 3-2 alongside Navy.
Navy returns to action Wednesday night at Loyola Maryland, while Army will look to bounce back Friday against Holy Cross. The rematch between these service academies is scheduled for February 15 at West Point.
